Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 85: Say One More Wrong Word and It Won’t Just Be a Slap

Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Say One More Wrong Word and It Won’t Just Be a Slap

Although the rumors were slight, they still managed to reach the ears of those involved.

Claire didn’t seem to mind, instead she focused on supporting The Lockwood Matriarch attentively.

In contrast, The Lockwood Matriarch frowned, glaring coldly in the direction of the gossip.

The crowd fell silent instantly.

Tristan Lockwood was standing beside Elder Lockwood at that moment.

Meanwhile, Claire was next to The Lockwood Matriarch.

Their positioning sparked speculation among many of those present.

However, because Claire’s face didn’t really stand out within the elite circles—despite being a beauty—in this crowd, the women of prestigious families all had good looks. Most importantly, what mattered was a legitimate birth and family background.

So although most people had their suspicions, they didn’t dare to think too much in that direction.

Someone whispered among the crowd, "Could she be another illegitimate daughter the Lockwood Family recently found? Timothy Lockwood’s infamous scandals from back then were well known, leaving a seed or two isn’t impossible."

"Speaking of which, I heard even Sean Lockwood is..."

"If you two enjoy chatting so much, why not take it to the stage and talk more?"

Sean Lockwood suddenly appeared behind the gossipers, his voice steady, his expression calm as he looked at them.

He smirked slightly, showing no anger despite the gossip, but his aura was extremely intimidating, exuding a fierce presence that made others retreat.

The two immediately shut their mouths, bowing their heads as they retreated to the side.

But Sean wasn’t the type to be magnanimous.

If they dared to speak ill of the Lockwood Family at their own event, naturally they wouldn’t be tolerated here.

"Since neither of you wish to chat further, I’ll have to ask you to leave."

After speaking, he made a brief eye gesture, and the nearby security swiftly stepped forward, escorting the pair out of the banquet.

Claire watched as the two were dragged away, vaguely feeling that she might have seen them somewhere before.

This suddenly reminded her of the woman who was moving things earlier.

Claire had a sudden intuition; she had definitely seen that face recently, and it wasn’t someone she knew well.

It should have been just a fleeting encounter.

She thoughtfully recalled various events from the recent past while Elder Lockwood was already standing on the stage, preparing to speak.

Claire furrowed her brow, the woman’s face gradually coming into focus in her mind.

It was her!

Dean Dawson’s wife!

Almost instantly, before Elder Lockwood could utter a sound, the electronic screen behind them projected a scandalous photo.

Claire’s face turned pale immediately.

The picture was from that day on the mountain when Dean Dawson had torn her clothes—a photo capturing her at her most disheveled state, her face angrily staring into the lens, but rendered as if she was reluctantly acquiescent, sparking imagination.

Moreover, several photos popped up in succession, displaying close-ups of her exposed skin.

Claire stood expressionless, staring fixedly at the photos on the screen, allowing the whirlwind around her to rage on.

At this moment, she was solely analyzing in her mind that these photos, judging by the angles, must have been taken by Dean Dawson himself. He must have purposely left evidence with the intention of using it against her someday, like this.

However, the photos on the screen didn’t just feature her and Dean Dawson.

Even a photo of her hugging Dylan Skinner at the hospital entrance was there.

All eyes in the room simultaneously turned towards Claire.

Curious, scrutinizing, mocking, indifferent.

She was like an object for inspection, laid bare for everyone to pass judgment.

Subject to criticism.

Tristan Lockwood’s face darkened almost immediately; he glanced at her pale face and quickly made his way backstage to the control room.

Jenson Jennings walked over to The Lockwood Matriarch, saying, "I’ll take Claire away first."

He protected Claire, not noticing Luna standing not far away beside Sean, biting her lip with a complicated expression.

Meanwhile, the broadcast at the banquet suddenly echoed with a woman’s voice.

She even directly kept the live camera fixed on Claire’s face.

"Let me introduce everyone; this is Riverbend’s famed divorce litigation expert, Claire Hale. On the surface, she tackles divorce cases, but secretly engages in all kinds of disgraceful acts! Today, as a victim, I must unveil the true face of this woman. Not only is she morally corrupt, using her profession to seduce my husband, but her own background is also questionable, she is..."

Before the woman could finish her indignant rant, the microphone by her mouth was abruptly taken and thrown to the ground.

The entire circuit was swiftly cut off.

Cindy Skinner looked up, facing her was Tristan Lockwood with an expression as dark as it could get.

At the same time, two security guards dressed in black emerged from behind Tristan. One of them kicked Cindy in the back of her knee, causing her to scream in pain and immediately kneel, instinctively propping her hands on the floor. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Tristan took a step forward, placing his foot on her right hand, applying pressure, his voice calm as he asked, "Which hand did you use to put those photos up?"

Ten fingers connected to the heart, the pain made Cindy immediately cry out, begging Tristan to let her go.

Tristan squatted down, facing her directly: "When you put my wife’s photos on the big screen, did you not think you’d be kneeling before me, crying for mercy?"

Cindy’s face turned pale as she heard this: "Claire, Claire Hale is your..."

Tristan suddenly let out a cold laugh, looking at her mockingly: "You didn’t even investigate this matter clearly, yet you dared to stand in front of so many people and slander her for seducing your incompetent husband?"

Cindy bit her lip, struggling to say: "I don’t care whose wife she is! The photos are evidence, she seduced Dean Dawson and then turned against him to give him a criminal record. You know how much this impacts his career, do you? A woman like her is a scourge on this earth!"

—Pow!

The bodyguard standing by delivered a slap to Cindy’s face, causing the left side of her face to swell immediately, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Tristan stared at her coldly: "Consider this a warning, say one more wrong word, and it won’t just be a slap."

His eyes were as dark as ink, akin to an endless abyss capable of swallowing everything.

In his calm, deep voice lay a chilling aura, like the foreboding of a coming storm.

Cindy immediately shut her mouth, her previously envious eyes now faint with terror.

Tristan looked at her steadily, his lips barely moving as he slowly said, "You’d better honestly confess who gave you the nerve to cause trouble at the Lockwood Family banquet."

His dark eyes locked firmly on her.

Cindy was almost drenched in sweat.

She opened her mouth, gasping for air, trying to catch her breath.

But Tristan’s presence felt heavier than the clouds before a storm; just facing his black eyes, she could barely breathe.